Date:31/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/31/stories/2007103162511700.htm

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Qatar assures priority Liquefied Natural Gas supply to India

Sujay Mehdudia

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora addresses the sixth Natural Gas Conference in Doha. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, is at left.

NEW DELHI: Qatar has said it will consider offering a major chunk of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) on a priority basis to India after its expanded capacity of 77 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) becomes operational by 2010.

India will be getting the second tranche of 2.5 MMT per year of LNG by 2009 from Qatar.

It has already got 5 MMT per year during 2004 taking the total supply to 7.5 MMT under the 25-year agreement signed with the state-owned oil company RasGas.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, who returned from a two-day visit to Qatar, said here on Tuesday that the assurance was given by the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah during his two-day stay in Doha.

The Emir also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Qatar to strengthen the bond of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

India’s economy is the fastest growing and it needs energy to meet its growing needs and Qatar will stand by it, he said.

The Petroleum Minister was keen on importing 5 MMT more of LNG from Qatar and already initiated talks on this.

Mr. Deora was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Petroleum Secretary, M.S. Srinivasan, Gas Authority of India Limited Chairman and Managing Director U.D. Choubey, ONGC Videsh Limited Managing Director R.S. Butola and Petronet LNG Limited Managing Director P. Dasgupta.